Early Childhood Center Directors

Networking Meeting

May 10^th    -   10:00 AM - noon 

Think Small, West Office - 2021 E. Hennepin Ave., Mpls

Presentation:   Preventing Legal Flare-Ups in Early Childhood Programs

Speaker:    Tom Copeland, J.D. will guide directors through common scenarios that arise in child care centers and discuss the legal ramifications. Issues highlighted will include:

o   Reducing Conflicts with Parents: Using Contracts and Policies Effectively

o   Building Partnerships with Families: Preventing Sticky Situations and Promoting Clear Expectations

o   Balancing Minority and Majority Needs in Our Programs

o   Privacy and Confidentiality in the Age of the Internet

Tom Copeland is a licensed attorney specializing in legal and business issues for early childhood programs. A national trainer, advocate and author of nine books published by Redleaf Press, Tom worked at Resources for Child Caring (now Think Small) for 28 years and served on the board of directors of  First Children's Finance. Tom’s forthcoming book, Preventing Legal Flare-Ups in Early Childhood Programs  for child care centers with co-author Holly Elissa Bruno will be available Fall 2012.

What Do Teachers Need From Their Director?

Join us for a directors’ dialogue on what’s working in your program and your questions for other directors. Come share with colleagues your examples, ideas and challenges on orienting staff, building mutual respect, sharing decision-making, ensuring staff know and comply with Rule 3 and program standards, and nurturing a learning community for adults as well as children.

All center directors and assistant directors are invited to attend the EC Directors Group. We meet on the second Thursday of the month from 10 AM – Noon at Think Small offices at 2021 Hennepin Ave. E., Mpls.

Come join us!

May 10^th Meeting Agenda

1.  Welcome

2.  Presentation:    Preventing Legal Flare-Ups in Early Childhood

                             Programs

3.  Discussion Topic:    What Do Teachers Need From Their Director?

4.  State legislative update  -   Child Care WORKS

5.  Summer and fall ec directors group topics

6.   Licensing issues, updates, and networking

PARENT AWARE INFO SESSION

Immediately following the EC Directors meeting, from Noon – 1:00 PM, a Parent Aware Information Session will provide  center directors with everything you need to know to apply for the July – December  Parent Aware quality rating group. Currently rated programs are also encouraged to attend an Information Session to learn about the changes in Parent Aware since the pilot.  Parent Aware ratings for programs in the Parent Aware pilot will expire by December 31, 2012. The July cohort is the last opportunity to ensure that your program will not have a lapse in your rating. Please call Brandi baker at 651-233-2264 to RSVP.  Questions?  Contact Nancy Johnson at 651-233-2260 or njohnson@thinksmall.org

Early Childhood Directors Networking Meeting

                                April 12th   -  10:00 AM - NOON 

                                    Think Small, 2021 E. Hennepin Ave., Mpls

Making the Most of Parent Conferences - Strengthening the Relationship                 

Featured Speaker:  Ann Ruhl-Carlson, Early Childhood Specialist, Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Are you looking for effective ways to get parents to come to parent conferences? Do your teachers know how to conduct successful parent conferences to create strong and positive relationships with parents? We’ll discuss what directors and teachers need to consider for engaging with families from other cultures and with parents of children with special needs. We’ll also discuss tools and skills teachers can use to facilitate successful parent conferences. 

Trends in Schoolage Child Care

Featured Speaker:  Kim St. Marie, MNSACCA Project Coordinator

What’s new in schoolage child care in 2012?  Will more public schools be expanding into before-and-after-school programming?  How many SACC programs are accredited and is this a growing trend?

Come join us!  The EC Directors Group is open to all directors and assistant directors in the metro area. We meet on the second Thursday of the month from 10 AM – Noon at Think Small, 2021 Hennepin Ave. E., Mpls.    

Questions? Contact Nancy Johnson, 651-233-2260 or njohnson@thinksmall.org

Parent Aware Information Session for Directors

Parent Aware is going statewide. Come find out how the Parent Aware Quality Rating System works. Immediately following the EC Directors Meeting on April 12^th  from Noon – 1:00 PM, directors are invited to a free Parent Aware Information Session.  Applications for the next 2012 Parent Aware cohort will be due in June. Directors of programs that received ratings in the Parent Aware pilot are encouraged to attend this Information Session to prepare for re-rating before December, 2012.  Questions? Contact Nancy Johnson at 651-233-2260 or njohnson@thinksmall.org

February 9^th  EC Center Directors
Networking Meeting

Topic: Children With Challenging Behavior

                                                 

Need strategies and resources for working with children with challenging behavior?

Colleen Dockendorf, Special Needs Consultant, will join us on February 9^th to discuss how directors can support their staff and engage with parents of children with challenging behaviors.

10:00 AM – 11:30   –   at Think Small (RCC's new name)
2021 E. Hennepin Ave., Mpls

Speaker  -  Colleen Dockendorf, Special Needs Consultant

Immediately following, from 11:30 – 12:30, all directors interested in participating in the Parent Aware quality rating system are invited to stay for a Parent Aware Information Session. Directors of programs whose Parent Aware ratings will expire before December 31, 2012 are also encouraged to attend this Information Session.

All center directors and assistant directors are invited to attend the directors networking groups. We  meet on the second Thursday of the month, usually from 10 AM – Noon,  at Think Small offices at  2021 Hennepin Ave. E., Mpls. Come join us!

Meeting Agenda

1.    Welcome

2.   RCC has a new name!   Think Small
                                        Leaders in Early Learning

3.    Providing Child Care for Children With Challenging Behavior  - 
      Colleen Dockendorf, Special Needs Consultant

4.    State legislative update  -  Cisa Keller, MCCA

Join Us for the Monthly Center Directors Group

THURSDAY, January 12^th  - What’s Ahead for Early Childhood
                                              Programs in 2012?

MN Recently Won Race to the Top Funding. What Could This Mean for Your Program?

10:00 AM – 12:00 noon  -  RCC West office – 2021 E. Hennepin Ave., Mpls

Speaker:  Barb Yates, RCC executive director and

Chair of the Governor’s Early Learning Council

On January 12^th we’ll hear about the plans for Minnesota’s $45 million in Race To The Top funds.  Barbara Yates, Chair of the Governor’s Early Learning Council and executive director of Resources for Child Caring, will discuss the Race To The Top and the plans for statewide expansion of  Parent Aware Ratings, scholarships for high need children in top rated programs and the policy directions of the Governor’s Early Learning Council and the newly created Minnesota Office of Early Learning.

All center directors and assistant directors are invited to RCC’s FREE directors networking groups on the second Thursday of the month at RCC offices at 2021 Hennepin Ave. E., Mpls., 55413.

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Notes from the December 7^th, 2011  Center Directors Meeting

Child Care WORKS preview of the 2012 legislature 

 Chris Breva-Erickson

CCW Advocacy Agenda is available at: www.childcareworks.org

2012 Action Items include supporting efforts to expand the Parent Aware quality rating and improvement system statewide, fully fund Basic Sliding Fee Child Care Assistance and increase family income eligibility to 75% of the state medium income, and support publication and use of an early childhood report card.

The MN Child Care Association will be taking the lead on trying to restore the 2.5% reimbursement rate cut to providers.

The cut in absent days from 25 to 10 per year for licensed providers and to 0 for FFN providers is also a hot issue. 
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The MNCPD Registry

Kellie Cecil-Medina and Wai Yang, Registry Specialists from the MN Center for Professional Development, MNCPD, provided an overview of MNCPD and a “walkthrough” of the Training Registry.  The vision for Minnesota’s Professional Development System is a seamless, integrated system that raises the capacity and competencies of those providing early care and education for children beginning at birth, aligns with K-12 education and links to higher education to support child development and school success. The ultimate goal of the PD System is to improve positive outcomes for children.

In 2007 the Minnesota Legislature authorized DHS, in cooperation with the Departments of Education and Health, to develop and phase in the implementation of a Professional Development System for providers serving children in early childhood and school-age programs.

Over a 16-month planning period, DHS sought input from a broad array of stakeholder groups to inform, guide and shape system development.

The PD System has been designed around a framework of five interconnected components:

§  Quality Assurance

§  Core Knowledge

§  Qualifications and Credentials

§  Outreach and Access

§  Funding Support

The Annual Report of the Minnesota Professional Development System for Early Childhood and School-age Practitioners (2010) provides details on 25 key indicators of that effort's progress.

After giving a “virtual tour” of the Registry website, Kellie and Wai answered directors’ questions including how to become an “approved trainer (applications on the website),” how trainers are evaluated (by participants), why original transcripts are required (need the information on the back of the transcript), and whether licensors recognize MNCPD approved training by an approved trainer (yes, they’re supposed to).

Kelli and Wai noted that MNCPD and licensing are working towards the Registry training records fulfilling the licensing requirement for evidence of staff qualifications.

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How Do Centers Handle Holiday Traditions and Celebrations ?

Focus on the traditions of families and children in your program

Several directors suggested that a starting place is to ask families to share what they do around holidays

Use the time as an opportunity for community service or sharing

Remember that people aren’t “props”

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Department of Labor Alert:  A director noted that in a recent training about legal and labor issues for child care businesses, it was reported that the Department of Labor recently hired an additional 100 investigators and that they’re cracking down on employers without proper I-9 Forms for every employee, including every employee who worked there in the past 3 years.

Directors requested that one of our upcoming speakers be an expert in labor laws covering child care centers.

JANUARY 12th, 2012 - EC Directors Group

Join Us for the Monthly Center Directors Group

THURSDAY, January 12^th  - What’s Ahead for Early Childhood

                                              Programs in 2012?

MN Recently Won $45 Million in Race to the Top Funding and instituted an Office of Early Learning. What Could This Mean for Your Program?

10:00 AM – 12:00 noon  -  RCC West office – 2021 E. Hennepin Ave., Mpls

Speaker:  Barb Yates, RCC executive director and

Chair of the Governor’s Early Learning Council

On January 12^th we’ll hear about the plans for Minnesota’s $45 million in Race To The Top funds.  Barbara Yates, Chair of the Governor’s Early Learning Council and executive director of Resources for Child Caring, will discuss the Race To The Top and the plans for statewide expansion of  Parent Aware Ratings, scholarships for high need children in top rated programs and the policy directions of the Governor’s Early Learning Council and the newly created Minnesota Office of Early Learning.

All center directors and assistant directors are invited to RCC’s FREE directors networking groups on the second Thursday of the month.

SAVE  February 9^th  -  Meeting Topic: Children with

                        Challenging Behavior

Need strategies and resources for working with children with challenging behavior? Colleen Dockendorf, Special Needs Consultant, will join us on February 9^th to discuss how directors can support their staff and engage with parents of children with behaviors that are challenging.

March 8^th Meeting Topics  -  Meet the NAZ   

                                         Successful Parent Conferences

April 12^th Meeting Topic  -  Trends in Schoolage

                                               Child Care

Questions? Call Nancy Johnson, 651-233-2260 or

email  njohnson@resourcesforchildcare.org

DECEMBER MEETING - Center Directors Group

Come join colleagues and friends for center news, information sharing, stimulating discussion and holiday treats:

Thursday, December 8^th from 10:00 AM – Noon

Resources for Child Caring - WEST Office  Suite 250

2021 East Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis  55413

RCC’s networking group for center directors is free and open to all directors
and assistant directors.

                          December Meeting Agenda

Minnesota’s Professional Development Registry

Kellie Cecili-Medina, Registry Specialist for the Minnesota Center for Professional Development, will give an overview of the Registry and answer your questions including those raised at our November meeting:

·         What are the Registry’s benefits for center staff?

·         Why are original transcripts required?

·         What’s the process for becoming an approved trainer?

·         How are courses approved by the Registry?

Center Holiday Traditions  

•  Does your center celebrate any winter holidays?
•  How are children’s experiences included in your planning for holidays?
•  What do you do to engage parents from different backgrounds in your   holiday plans and traditions? 

Policy Update for the 2012 Legislative Session

• The outlook for child care policy at the 2012 Legislative Session
• Update on union representation for family child care providers

Please call Nancy Johnson with questions or to RSVP: 651-233-2262

Notes from the November Directors Group:

Scholarships for Professional Development

Shelly Hendricks and Erin Young from the Minnesota Child Care Resource and Referral Network presented information about T.E.A.C.H  Scholarships, CDA college credit scholarships, the Judy Lindman Memorial Scholars forgiveable loan program and Retain Awards. Applications are currently being accepted and the next deadline is April 1st, 2012.

For more info: http://mnchildcare.org/TEACH/index.php

Or contact Shelly Hendricks - 651-290-9704 Ext.106;  shellyh@mnchildcare.org; Erin Young - 651-290-9704 ext.109; eriny@mnchildcare.org

Twin Cities Child Care Center Pay Scale Survey Results 

A total of 18 metro area centers completed the survey. 94.4% are licensed programs, 4 are NAEYC Accredited and 4 receioved 3 or 4 Level Ratings from Parent Aware. Most (38.9%) enroll 41-70 children with 5 small programs (less than 40) and large centers (more than 71).

Most centers in the survey (83%) serve both preschoolers and toddlers and are open year-round. The survey included questions about pay scales for teaching staff, how programs determine wage increases, what percentage of salary is considered for raises, the types of experience and education considered in hiring new employees and employee benefits including paid health insurance, child care, and the number of holidays, in-service days, sick, vacation and PTO days.

   

A few highlights from the survey include:

• Starting rate for lead teacher - 4 centers at $10-11.99;                          7 at $12-13.99;  3 at $14-15.99;  3 at $16-17.99.
• A majority of centers who answered this question give 1-2% of employee's salary in raises.
• The most common percentage for the centers (9) was a 25-74% health insurance subsidy.
• 7 centers provide 7-10 paid holidays, 6 are closed for 1-3 days for in-service, and most programs have no floating holidays. Also, most programs (9) provide 4-6 days or less for paid sick leave. 
• While 6 programs didn't answer this question, 4 programs capped vacation at 15-20 days.

Copies of the complete survey will be available at the December meeting. You can also email Nancy Johnson at njohnson@resourcesforchildcar.org for a copy of the survey.

November 10th, 2011 Early Childhood Directors Meeting

Hi Center Directors,

Join us for the next center directors meeting THIS THURSDAY from 10 am - 12:00 noon and find out how other directors in the metro area answered our wage, benefits and salary scales survey:
Metro Area Center Directors Meeting THURSDAY - November 10th
10:00 am - noon - Resources for Child Caring, WEST office
2021 East Hennepin Ave., Suite 250, Minneapolis

If you haven't taken the 10 minute wage and benefits survey, check out the Early Childhood Directors Blog from the October meeting: http://ecdirectorsgroup.blogspot.com/

Or go directly to the survey URL below:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/L3538TG

This Thursday, we'll also hear about scholarships for CDA credentials and the T.E.A.C.H. MN Program. You'll have time to share concerns, strategies and tips with other directors and make suggestions for topics for the monthly meetings in 2012.

Hope to see you on Thursday.
Nancy Johnson